I find packing to go away, is when I am at my most focussed. You have to take your best and most wearable pieces and I always end up spotting the gaps in my wardrobe and identifying the items that I just don’t wear and they end up on my Ebay shop.

Below are the items, that work in my wardrobe, I have recommended most of them time and time again, regardless of lifestyle or budget.

I have learned my lesson about buying for those 2 weeks of high summer, forget it, focus on clothes that suit your lifestyle and are appropriate for the weather you normally encounter.

As the sales are around the corner, it is also time to ear mark key pieces and put them in your Wish List .

Then when the sales start, you are focussed and avoid buying more of the same. I have a ‘Summer’ wardrobe now that I can wear from May onwards and a lot of the items, I wear year in year out.

Swimwear, Beach Accessories and cover ups, have I got this wrong over the years! I have in the past got so foxed into buying things that look great, in those shops in the restaurants by the beach normally flushed from Rose.

I love Cocobay and Seafolly and have mentioned this brand again and again, you can do no wrong buying their bikinis or swimsuits. They fit and wash so well, I will be featuring my latest addition, the rash vest next week. The one featured below is the Goddess. Use the code SCHOOLGATES16 to get 20% off .

This year thanks to Jo, I have discovered Prism, it is pricey but the fit is the best and I have invested in the Buzios, it is so comfortable and super flattering,

I really want one of those Balenciaga beach bags and it is top of my sales list, I can use it to travel, sightsee and on the beach. If you are not into logos go for Furla, this is my brand of choice, the python crossbody featured above will go with everything .

A sunhatis a must and I love the one featured above from Heidi Klein, it is easy to pack and looks great on.

Celine, glassesjust suit my face and they are almost impossible to break, I have had my first pair for years now. Go for the Cat eye shape, they sell out fast, I saw that Matches had some come in this week.

Celine Caty Sunglasses

The beach cover up, I prefer Dodo Bar Or to the Cecile Copenhagen pieces as they wash better. I only buy cover ups in sale, check out the black dress from Sensi Studios featured above or the white version from Mes Demoiselles, who make the best summer dresses, it is on sale at Matches.

These are all dresses you can wear in London too, as they are not too beachy. Don’t forget to pack a denim shirt as again I love to throw mine over my bikini. I love American Eagle and you can now buy the brand in the UK.

I would also recommend buying the best oversized white shirt you can afford, this is what I live in on the beach. The one featured in the collage is from M.i.h, I bought mine on Ebay but this is a shirt worth investing in.

Otherwise I wear jeans and shortsduring the day. I love Zara for shorts, they are really as good as any of the more expensive brands .

I tend to wear distressed boyfriend jeans in the summer , check out for Avenue 32 which has a fabulous pair in sale from Frame.

I love a pair of white jeans , Zara have a great pair for £20 I have been recommending and I adore the cropped ones, above in the collage from Shopbop.

White Jeans from Camar

I feel I have bored you all with my Sundry jogger obsession, they are just the best and they do not sag or fall down. This is the one item I wear most in summer, check out Shopbop which is where I bought the blue pair featured or ASOS.

We all know how useful cargo pantsare, I found this great pair above by Theory, which are great for traveling .

I am weaning myself of jumpsuits, I wish I had bought this one above from NLST as my first one. It is perfect, fitted light weight and cropped, again this is on my Wish List for the sales. I have ordered the black jumpsuit from Madewell, this is one to throw over a bikini and you are dresses and it is down to £68 pounds now.

My 2016 obsession is the vest with a great bra, inspired by my friend Shanaz. She found the best bra from ASOS, from the brand Love Claudette they are in sale now, get one before they go. I LOVE THESE BRAS! I will be pairing mine with my jeans, joggers and shorts depending on the weather .

I love my statement shirtsand I am so happy to have discovered Loeil, this site is packed full of over the top shirts at prices from £50 .

Another wardrobe staple is the white blazer, when I haven’t a clue what to wear I throw one on, I love the one above which is such a steal, it is Ralph Lauren and costs just £75 . from. I call this my Paltrow look!

Dresses are just synonymous with Summer, again in my mid 40’s I find dresses a mindfield.

My staple the ‘hippy dress’ is almost a no go , it can be so ageing. I would rather wear shorts than a short skirt so this leaves midi dresses and skirts as my best option.

Shorts and top Maje

I have selected some great options , I am obsesessed by Reformation, they do the best statement dresses such as the white one featured.

I always pack a hoodie to throw over my dresses as I prefer that laid back look, my favourite is from American Vintage.

Dress from Avenue 32

You cannot beat a simple black dress with a tan, check out the fabulous Catherine Quin or check out Reformation, I love again for the navy the top and skirt combination featured in my collage.

I pack one pair of nude heels and they are normally from Alexander Wang ( as featured below) but I love this pair from Iris and Ink at the Outnet, they go with everything and the ankle strap is uniformly flattering. Otherwise I only bring flats, I love the white Hermes ones, I spotted at Vestiaire Collective.

The bomber jacket, I know it is everywhere but nothing beats them and Topshop always does the best ones!

This silk green one pictured in my edit is the perfect shade and I love the lightweight material, making it the perfect Summer cover up.

Finally I always travel in a tracksuit, I want to be comfortable and if you want to invest, keep an eye out for Stella McCartney , I bought one of hers at Bicester Village last year and it is my go to travel outfit. I love this seasons navy version. Yes they are expensive but I promise this is something you will wear again and again.

I know this is lots of information but with the sales around the corner, this is the time to decide on those big investment pieces and not get diverted by transient fashion items ( not too often any way)